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Why do people who have been on Proz for over 10 years continue to hide behind silly screen names?
Thread poster: Michael Beijer
Georgie Scott
Georgie Scott  Identity Verified
France
Local time: 12:20
French to English
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What you need is mediators Mar 1, 2016

Your problem isn't with people not using their real names it's with them being nasty to you on Kudoz.

Shouldn't you be calling for moderators that deal with that sort of thing?


 
Michael Beijer
Michael Beijer  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 11:20
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Fine. You think my idea is ludicrous. I'm OK with that. Mar 1, 2016

Georgie Scott wrote:

Michael J.W. Beijer wrote:

There is nothing ludicrous about wanting to discuss this and perhaps try to meet in the middle. As I said, some form of optional badge might be an option. It obviously doesn't bother you, but it bothers me, and it bothers others, so please let those who care about this discuss it in peace.

Michael



Do you want a discussion or just to talk with people that agree with you?

Your idea is ludicrous.



I didn't use my "real name" on here for 6 years and happily conducted a professional life.

As it happens, I didn't use my "real name" in the beginning for the same reason my family has always been ex-directory. Safety.

That in itself is reason enough for your idea to be ludicrous.


But more importantly, it's up to other people how they conduct their lives.

For some, this is akin to a chat room. And they seem to be happily earning a living despite that. Some people tell jokes, some are sarcastic and some people even post pictures of their children. But it doesn't stop the site being a great way to relax and gain valuable insight and peer support.


There is an opt-in feature already - you just write your real name in the user name box. Google takes care of the rest.


However, I will continue to not be able to take people seriously who refuse to identify themselves. Just as it is their right to not identify themselves when speaking to their colleagues, it is my right to treat them as if they might be a bot or a prankster. If you act like a bot or a prankster, you shouldn't expect to be treated like a human.


 
Michael Beijer
Michael Beijer  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 11:20
Member (2009)
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True Mar 1, 2016

Georgie Scott wrote:

Your problem isn't with people not using their real names it's with them being nasty to you on Kudoz.

Shouldn't you be calling for moderators that deal with that sort of thing?


And this is generally what I/we do. I send countless messages to the mods every year. It just gets tedious, and I sometimes would like to be able to out them, and in effect say to the group: "Look, this is so and so, this is the person who has been acting like a total knob all these years." As I said, I think outing them would go a long way towards making them behave.


[Edited at 2016-03-01 12:21 GMT]


 
Tom in London
Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 11:20
Member (2008)
Italian to English
Come on Mar 1, 2016

Michael J.W. Beijer wrote:

I actually find it rather insulting that people can criticise others, while refusing to identify themselves as a human being. No picture, no name, no real info about who they are. Just another anonymous entity floating around online, being overly critical and showing off t̶h̶e̶i̶r̶ its knowledge. This is surely no way to build a real community?

I therefore propose that the site rethink its policies around this issue and perhaps consider introducing some form of mandatory ID policy. After all, this isn't some random chat room or hangout for gamers. It's a platform for professional translators, who are expected to be real human beings, with actual lives and identities.

Michael


[Edited at 2016-03-01 08:12 GMT]


Come on. Who do you expect to believe that "Michael J.W. Beijer" is your real name?


 
Michael Beijer
Michael Beijer  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 11:20
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That was a joke, right? Mar 1, 2016

Tom in London wrote:

Michael J.W. Beijer wrote:

I actually find it rather insulting that people can criticise others, while refusing to identify themselves as a human being. No picture, no name, no real info about who they are. Just another anonymous entity floating around online, being overly critical and showing off t̶h̶e̶i̶r̶ its knowledge. This is surely no way to build a real community?

I therefore propose that the site rethink its policies around this issue and perhaps consider introducing some form of mandatory ID policy. After all, this isn't some random chat room or hangout for gamers. It's a platform for professional translators, who are expected to be real human beings, with actual lives and identities.

Michael


[Edited at 2016-03-01 08:12 GMT]


Come on. Who do you expect to believe that "Michael J.W. Beijer" is your real name?


 
Christine Andersen
Christine Andersen  Identity Verified
Denmark
Local time: 12:20
Member (2003)
Danish to English
+ ...
If your name is too common, a brand may be better Mar 1, 2016

You have to take my word for it that I am who I say I am.
As opposed to any of the dozens of other Christine Andersens Google comes up with. Otherwise I might or might not use a different business name. I carefully do not reveal my middle name most of the time.

There used to be several with the same name as my husband just in our small-town phone book, back when we still had a hard-copy phone book.
Andersen is one of the commonest names in Denmark.

I had one
... See more
You have to take my word for it that I am who I say I am.
As opposed to any of the dozens of other Christine Andersens Google comes up with. Otherwise I might or might not use a different business name. I carefully do not reveal my middle name most of the time.

There used to be several with the same name as my husband just in our small-town phone book, back when we still had a hard-copy phone book.
Andersen is one of the commonest names in Denmark.

I had one or two funny conversations with people who turned out to be looking for Andersen the joiner, not the one I am married to. Both good-natured souls who promise to help people now and then in their free time... without telling their wives. I think mine is better at keeping his promises!

He has had several other namesakes in politics and business over the years, and it does cause confusion.

I have often considered going over to a brand name that would distinguish me from others, but Translator, Danish to English does it quite well.

I don't have any problems with people using brand names. As I said, you don't KNOW what my real name is anyway. It just looks like a real name, but that doesn't prove it is mine!
Collapse


 
Michael Beijer
Michael Beijer  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 11:20
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I understand Mar 1, 2016

Texte Style wrote:

This subject has come up before and I'll say the same thing as before: as a former victim of a seriously creepy stalker, I refuse to do anything on Internet that requires me to put my real name out for anyone to find with a quick Google search.

I similarly refuse to use a photo in which I might be identified. I thoroughly enjoy being able to discuss translation matters here without anyone ever making any comments on my appearance, or hitting on me.

For the record, I only come here for a bit of a chat, I don't use Proz to seek out clients. I might one day, in which case I might just buy membership and add a photo with a logo or something. My "name" does already reflect my take on translation, and puns my primary specialist subject, so I think it's plenty pro enough.

So if you find it insulting, I'm very sorry. My physical safety takes priority.

[Edited at 2016-03-01 09:46 GMT]


I fully understand that certain people will have very good reasons to want to remain anonymous. I just wanted to discuss the matter, and see if we could come up with any alternative solutions. I admit that my thread title is a bit polemical, but I did that on purpose to catch people's attention.

So far, it doesn't look like there will be any way, or desire, to implement anything along the lines of an actual identity/name verification system that is open to us users, and that the best I can hope for in my own particular situation (being harassed by a small number of anonymous users in the KudZ forums) is to continue to message the mods.


 
Michael Beijer
Michael Beijer  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 11:20
Member (2009)
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I'm sorry you are insulted by my being insulted Mar 1, 2016

The Misha wrote:

Michael J.W. Beijer wrote:

I actually find it rather insulting ...



For my part, I find it rather insulting that there are folks out there who take it upon themselves to tell others what to do or how to manage their affairs, online or offline, here or elsewhere. I find it even more disturbing that they think they have some kind of a "moral right," or whatever you want to call it, to do so. Back in the unfortunate country of my birth, they have already tried that once, and the people at the spearhead of that glorious effort were damn certain they had every right to impose their version of universal happiness on everyone else. Well, we all know what happened. It all starts with little things, doesn't it?


I am not trying to tell anyone how to live their life and am under no illusions about being morally superior in any way. I am just annoyed at being harassed by a few anonymous morons in the Dutch-English KudoZ forums.


 
Dan Lucas
Dan Lucas  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 11:20
Member (2014)
Japanese to English
Just boycott KudoZ Mar 1, 2016

Michael J.W. Beijer wrote:
Georgie Scott wrote:
Your problem isn't with people not using their real names it's with them being nasty to you on Kudoz.
Shouldn't you be calling for moderators that deal with that sort of thing?

And this is generally what I/we do.

What you should do, Michael, is boycott KudoZ as I do.

Everybody complains about KudoZ for one reason or another. ProZ has either decided that it's not worth changing or it cannot make its mind up. Just stop dealing with KudoZ and your life will become less stressful.

If enough people take this route, KudoZ will either be changed or become ever more irrelevant.

Dan


 
Christopher Schröder
Christopher Schröder
United Kingdom
Member (2011)
Swedish to English
+ ...
Carrots! (Welsh in-joke, sorry, but it is St. David's Day today) Mar 1, 2016

Michael J.W. Beijer wrote:

I am just annoyed at being harassed by a few anonymous morons in the Dutch-English KudoZ forums.


Maybe we'd still be morons if we used our real/full names.

And we'll certainly still just be no more than a series of dots on your computer screen.

But I will definitely try to treat your posts with more respect once you start using your middle names and stop hiding behind your ludicrously offensive initials!!


 
Michael Beijer
Michael Beijer  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 11:20
Member (2009)
Dutch to English
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Joseph Wdowiak Mar 1, 2016

Chris S wrote:

Michael J.W. Beijer wrote:

I am just annoyed at being harassed by a few anonymous morons in the Dutch-English KudoZ forums.


Maybe we'd still be morons if we used our real/full names.

And we'll certainly still just be no more than a series of dots on your computer screen.

But I will definitely try to treat your posts with more respect once you start using your middle names and stop hiding behind your ludicrously offensive initials!!


I kid you not.

[Edited at 2016-03-01 13:49 GMT]


 
Oliver Pekelharing
Oliver Pekelharing  Identity Verified
Netherlands
Local time: 12:20
Dutch to English
boycott.2 Mar 1, 2016

Agree with Dan. I stopped participating in KudoZ years ago and do not regret it. Despite it being an important way to improve your ranking in the directory (which is plain stupid), I still get about as many requests from prospective clients today as I got during my short-lived stint as a relatively-high-ranker. So my experience is you certainly don't need to suffer KudoZ for the points.

Olly


 
Michael Beijer
Michael Beijer  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 11:20
Member (2009)
Dutch to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
ha ha, can't do that I'm afraid Mar 1, 2016

Dan Lucas wrote:

Michael J.W. Beijer wrote:
Georgie Scott wrote:
Your problem isn't with people not using their real names it's with them being nasty to you on Kudoz.
Shouldn't you be calling for moderators that deal with that sort of thing?

And this is generally what I/we do.

What you should do, Michael, is boycott KudoZ as I do.

Everybody complains about KudoZ for one reason or another. ProZ has either decided that it's not worth changing or it cannot make its mind up. Just stop dealing with KudoZ and your life will become less stressful.

If enough people take this route, KudoZ will either be changed or become ever more irrelevant.

Dan


as I'm a KudoZ addict

But seriously, the real reason is that it scoots me all the way up the rankings, which results in being contacted by tons of people for work. A lot of crap, of course, but some good stuff comes my way via the site too.

[Edited at 2016-03-01 13:49 GMT]


 
Matthias Brombach
Matthias Brombach  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 12:20
Member (2007)
Dutch to German
+ ...
Good point... Mar 1, 2016

... Afzal:
"Tom" in "London" wrote:
Come on. Who do you expect to believe that "Michael J.W. Beijer" is your real name?


Best regards to Delhi,

Vladimir

تغير في: 15:07 CET




[Edited at 2016-03-01 14:07 GMT]


 
Enrique Cavalitto
Enrique Cavalitto  Identity Verified
Argentina
Local time: 08:20
Member (2006)
English to Spanish
Verified identity Mar 1, 2016

Tom in London wrote:

Come on. Who do you expect to believe that "Michael J.W. Beijer" is your real name?




Some site users had their identity verified by the site. As this is the case with Michael, I would say that yes, you should believe that "Michael J.W. Beijer" is his real name.

Regards,
Enrique


 
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Why do people who have been on Proz for over 10 years continue to hide behind silly screen names?






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